More Summer Fun

We're back. Our camera has been broken for a few months, but at last, we've got a new one. So now we're in business. We've had an eventful summer -- lots of outside time, swimming, playing, grilling--all the things that make summer great.

In early August, Simone's cousins Peyton, Ella, and Seleste came down with Aunt Amy to visit. The girls had so much fun playing together.

One bicycle + four little girls = big problem. But they still found ways to have fun. Like running and ring around the rosie...

This past weekend, we took a drive up to Maryland to see Uncle Jim, Aunt Jenn and baby Jack. Simone had silly time in the back seat wearing daddy's flip flops.


















Baby Jack was so happy to play with Simone.
























Picking tomatoes with Pop...

And posing with Grammy...

Posing with Pop...not as easy as it looks getting everyone to look at the camera at the same time. This took about two dozen tries, and I still couldn't manage to get all smiles.

More to come...

Disney World Vacation

Last week we took our first summer family vacation to Disney World in Florida. Simone had the time of her life!(despite the serious faces in many of her photos.)

We had some technical difficulties with the camera, so we didn't get many pictures. But here's a peek at some, in no particular order....

Outside the Magic Kingdom...

Simone and Tony in the lobby of the Polynesian, watching the waterfall.

Together at the Princess lunch in Norway, EPCOT.

Simone with Mickey at the resort....
























Playing in the splash area in Downtown Disney...






Looking at the troll in Norway, EPCOT...

Simone took about a two hour nap in her stroller each day. Usually it was right about when we met the characters...

Waiting in line to go on the Dumbo ride for the second time. Simone INSISTED and waited patiently for 30 minutes.

Meeting Mary Poppins, asleep...

Watching cartoons in the lobby of the Animal Kingdom Lodge after we ate dinner at Boma...

Waiting for the bus back to the resort (and a rare smile)....

....Awake to meet Pooh and Tigger....

Several rides on the carousel...

Simone's second ride on Dumbo. We think she liked it so much becuz it was the highest and fastest ride she was allowed on.

The Rainy Day Parade in the Magic Kingdom. One of the staff said this was RARE, they usually cancel the parade if it rains.

Simone got lots of sleep every night and woke up "fun drunk" every morning!!

May Adventures

May was a very busy month... Mother's Day, teacher conference, doctor's appointments, Memorial Day, and the Herndon Festival. Simone is growing soooo fast; baby days are over and she's officially a little girl. She sings songs, speaks in almost sentences, and is working on giving up her bottle and pacifier entirely (those are tough ones).

Here's a recap of the month, in reverse order. Yesterday, we ran some errands and took a stop at the play yard. It was a beautiful day, sunny and warm, but not too hot. Simone loves to go down and UP sliding boards. How's that for dual use? (and yes, she CAN make it all the way to the top!)

We also went to the Herndon Festival. Despite her somewhat serious expressions, she really liked the rides and was a trooper waiting in all the lines. We think she'll do great in Disney World.

Yes, she looks a little terrified, but she loved this slide so much, she went down twice.

She braved the cars all on her own...

On Memorial Day we went to a bbq at the Petersons'. We had tons of yummy food, but the highlight for Simone was their new puppy, Chico. How cute, just her size. And no, we're not getting a puppy.

That weekend we also went to a neighborhood block party in Falls Church with Laura and Beckett.

AH!.... isn't life grand???? (OR maybe it's more like, uh! what am I going to do with these parents!!?!!??!)